GAMIFIED NETWORK SECURITY TRAINING USING DEDICATED VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS SIMULATING A DEPLOYED NETWORK TOPOLOGY OF NETWORK SECURITY PRODUCTS

Systems and methods are described for providing training to attendees of a network security training session through use of gamification. A virtual environment is created containing a network topology simulating a deployed network of network security devices for which teams of the attendees are to receive training. A 3D game interface is presented on a display of a computer system of an attendee. Based on a leaderboard server's game state, a problem-solving objective for the training session is presented on the display. The virtual environment facilitates interactions by the attendee with the network security devices via real web interfaces of corresponding full-feature virtual network security appliances in connection with attempts by the attendee to complete the objectives. Upon completion of an objective, the leaderboard server's game state is updated. Based on the game state of a group of objectives a second group of problem-solving objectives is presented to the attendee.